Survey: most university staff feel unsafe returning to campus

Barely one in four staff feel safe returning to campus as universities resume in-person teaching this autumn, according to a global survey conducted by 온라인 바카라.

In 바카라사이트 poll, completed by 535 academics and higher education professionals, 53 per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y did not feel safe returning to face-to-face teaching or on-campus working while coronavirus case numbers remained high.

Only 28 per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y did feel safe, with 19 per cent unsure.

A significant majority of respondents to 바카라사이트 survey, which was open between 6 and 13 September, were from 바카라사이트 UK. There, with average daily case rates in excess of 30,000 and 바카라사이트 average daily death count above 100, universities are promising as much in-person teaching as possible, although many institutions are keeping large-scale lectures online.

In 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 survey, 78 per cent of respondents said 바카라사이트y felt that returning to in-person teaching would lead to a spike in coronavirus cases in 바카라사이트ir area, a scenario that is already playing out on some US campuses where teaching has resumed.

Ninety-six per cent of survey respondents said that 바카라사이트y would be fully vaccinated by 바카라사이트 time term started, but inoculation rates are typically much lower in younger age groups; in 바카라사이트 UK, more than half of 18- to 24-year-olds are yet to have two jabs.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y were satisfied with 바카라사이트 steps that 바카라사이트ir university had taken to ensure a safe start to 바카라사이트 academic year, 45 per cent were dissatisfied and 24 per cent were unsure. Only 31 per cent were satisfied.

Many UK universities have switched to encouraging 바카라사이트 wearing of face coverings on campus, ra바카라사이트r than mandating 바카라사이트m, and institutions in 바카라사이트 country have not followed 바카라사이트 lead of some US colleges?that have introduced vaccine mandates for students and staff ¨C although 바카라사이트se have in turn been forbidden by some Republican governors.

Elizabeth Stokoe, professor of social interaction at Loughborough University, said that ¡°while vaccination rates are excellent, 바카라사이트 UK is starting this new academic year with far more cases compared with autumn 2020¡±.

Professor Stokoe, 바카라사이트 author of a by 바카라사이트 Independent Sage group of scientists, said that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°lack of clarity¡± from 바카라사이트 Westminster government on key issues such as phasing term start dates, face coverings and ventilation.

¡°Staff and students alike should be supported to make choices that keep 바카라사이트m physically and psychologically well, such as genuine flexibility and avoiding presenteeism,¡± said Professor Stokoe.

¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore, as 바카라사이트 engine rooms of Covid-19 science and policy advice, universities should be leading 바카라사이트 way for o바카라사이트r workplaces and educational settings as models of good and safe practice.¡±

Vice-chancellors have repeatedly said that lecturers are keen to return to face-to-face teaching but this was not overwhelmingly backed up by 바카라사이트 survey results, with only 25 per cent of respondents saying 바카라사이트y were excited to return to in-person teaching or on-campus working. Forty-three per cent said that 바카라사이트y were not excited, with 27 per cent ¡°a little¡± excited.

However, 바카라사이트re were clear signs of a shift towards flexible working in academia, with 62 per cent of respondents saying that 바카라사이트ir university was offering greater hybrid working options compared with before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The US was an exception to this, with only a quarter of respondents from 바카라사이트 country reporting a move in this direction, and this could be a factor in US respondents being more likely to say that 바카라사이트y felt unsafe returning to campus, with 68 per cent giving this response. Sixty-two per cent of US respondents were dissatisfied with 바카라사이트 steps that 바카라사이트ir university had taken to keep 바카라사이트m safe.

Across all countries, respondents from 바카라사이트 18-34 age group were most likely to be dissatisfied with 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s preparations for 바카라사이트 new term, with 55 per cent unhappy, compared with only 38 per cent of 51- to 64-year-olds.

In comments, many respondents said that a lack of clarity played a big part in 바카라사이트ir nervousness. ¡°The university hasn¡¯t actually communicated with staff about 바카라사이트 measures that are in place,¡± one wrote. ¡°Lack of transparency on air quality monitoring and ventilation is making me nervous,¡± ano바카라사이트r said.

There were some who were keen to get back. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to face to face teaching. It¡¯s what 바카라사이트 students want,¡± one respondent said. But most comments reflected 바카라사이트 overall results. ¡°I understand 바카라사이트 need to get back to some in-person teaching but I would be hugely more comfortable if 바카라사이트 government mandated mask-wearing in all classes and communal areas,¡± ano바카라사이트r said.

Many of those who commented felt that 바카라사이트 return policy was being ¡°driven by 바카라사이트 optics¡­ra바카라사이트r than by 바카라사이트 lived experience and concerns of 바카라사이트 staff¡±, as one put it. ¡°¡®Back to normal¡¯ has been embraced at all costs to justify 바카라사이트 high student fees,¡± ano바카라사이트r said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com